Dental instrument.



L. E. EVSLIN DENTAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.24.1916.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

onrrnn s'rA s PATENT OFFICE.

LEO E. EVSLIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO LEE SURGICO-DENTAL MFG 00., INC., A CORBOR ATION OF NEW YORK.

DENTAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification, of Letters Patent. 7 P t t 1 917,

Application filed March 24, 1916. Serial No. 86,342.

York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Instruments, of which the following is a specification. I

Amon g the objects of my present invention are to provide a simple, practical and at the same time inexpensive from of guard or protector for deflecting and holding the tongue to one side while working on'the teeth.

A special object is to combine with such a device, means for holding a sponge or like absorbent medium.

In the accomplishment of these objects I employ a tubular handle, carrying at one end a tongue-protecting blade, and. in the preferred form of the invention, mount on said blade, a sponge-holding clamp, operable by a connection extending through the tubular handle.

Other features of the invention and the details of construction will appear as the specification proceeds, attention being directed to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof wherein I have illustrated practical forms the invention may take.

In this drawing; Figure 1 is a front view of a combination tongue protector and sponge holder embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same; Fig. 3 is another sectional view, enlarged to better show details of construction.

Taking up now the drawing more in detail and referring first to that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, 7 designates the handle of the device, tubular in form and carrying the tongue deflecting and protecting blade 8 at one end thereof, the blade being detachably secured to the bandle in this particular instance by means of a screw joint 9. This blade may have rounded and slightly sharpened edges as indicated, adapting it for pressing back the gums and otherwise working around the teeth.

The sponge-holding clamp consists of a relatively movable hook-shaped jaw 10, co operating with a relatively fixed outstanding jaw-forming lug 11, provided on the active face of the blade.

The movable jaw works within an opening 12, formed in the face of the blade and is carried by an operating rod 13 extending in through said opening and-through a passage 14 in the shank portion of the blade, into the hollow handle.

The clamp is preferably automatically closed upon the'sponge or other absorbent body 15, as by means of a spring 16 seated in the tubular handle and acting against a shoulder 17 on the jaw-carrying rod 13. For releasing and controlling the clamp, I have provided in-the construction illustrated, an operating button 18 slidingly seated in the end of the handle and connected with the end of the jaw rod. By the provision of a screw connection at this point, such as indicated at 19, it is possible by turning this button so as to bring the flange 20 on the exposed head thereof into engagement with the end of the handle, to draw on the jaw rod and so positively close the clamp on the material inserted between the jaws. Ordi-, narily this flange may serve as a stop to limit the inward or releasing movement of the button, as will be clear from Fig. 3.

I find it desirable to form the sponge with a reduced neck portion 21 of a size to conveniently fit between the jaws of the clamp. This materially assists the placing of the sponge and the sponge is held much more firmly this way, the blade serving, when the sponge is in place, as a backing, bracing and supporting the body of the sponge.

The invention will be seen to be of simple, durable construction and practical and desirable for the purposes set forth.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character set forth, a tubular handle, a tongue-protecting blade carried by said handle, and a sponge-gripping jaw carried by said blade and having an operating part extending through said hollow handle.

2.,In a device of the character set forth, a tubular handle, a tongue-protecting blade carried by said handle and provided with an opening in one side thereof communicating with the interior of the hollow handle, an operating rod extending through the hollow handle and out the opening in the side of the blade and a sponge-gripping jaw on the outer extremity of said rod cooperating with a wall of said opening to form a spongegripping clamp.

3 In a device of the character set forth, a tubular handle, a tongue-protecting blade carried by said handle and provided with an opening in one side thereof communicating with the interior of the hollow handle, an operating rod extending through the hollow handle, and out the opening in the side of the blade and a sponge-gripping jaw 011 tne outer extremity of said rod cooperating with a wall of said opening to form a sponge-gripping clamp, and a'spring inside the tubular handle acting on the rod ther in to normally hold the jaw in the spongegripping position. r

' sL-In a device of the character set forth, a tubular handle, a tongue-protecting blade carried by said handle and provided with an opening in one side thereof communicating with the interior of the hollow handle, an operating rod extending through the hollowrhandle and out the opening in the side of the blade, a sponge-gripping jaw on the outer extremity of said rod cooperating with Copies of this patent may ha a wall of said opening to form a spongegripping clamp, and an operating button seated in the end of the tubular handle and having screw-threaded engagement with the jaw rod whereby by engagementwith the end of the handle to draw on the jaw rod and positively close the aw on a piece of absorbent inserted between said jaw and the cooperating gripping wall.

5. In a device of the character set forth, a blade having an opening in one side thereof and apassage extending through said blade to said opening, an outstanding lug at one edge of said opening and a clamping jaw cooperating with said lug, provided with an operating part extending through said opening and through the passage aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEO E. EVSLIN.

obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fiommissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D, Go 

